Car pusher



H. D. LILLIBRIDGE.

, CAR PUSHER. APPLICATLON FILED AUG-9, I916. RENEWED FEB. 2,1920.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

S m 3 SHEETS-SHEET a, S

uwmron Zia/r2291). Lillibrifigy A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nAnnY 1o. LrLmBRrnori, or. zANnsvILLE, OHIO, Assrenon TO AMERICAN ENCAUSTIC rrnnve COMPANY, 111 11, or NE 'YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or nnw YORK.

can PUSEIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. '1 ate t;efl 25, 1922,

Applicationyfiled August 9, 1916, Serial No. 113,887. Renewed February 2, 1920. .Seria1 No. ;355,7O0.

, T all whom zit Indy concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY DQLILLIIBRIDGE, a citizen or" the United States, residing at Zanesville,county of'Muskingum, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain newjand usefulCar Pusher,- of which the following is a specification. y

This invention is an apparatus for moving cars, the same being adapted, more particularly, for pushing cars loaded with ceramic waresinto; the tunnel of atunnel kiln or analogous furnace; but it isto be distinctly understood that the power apparatus of this invention is not-restricted in its use to feeding cars of the kind specified into a kiln of the specified character, for the reason that'said power apparatus may be employed-in any and all relations where it is desired to apply power for the relatively slow movement of heavy loads.

To enable others to understand the utility of the invention, I will describe it as adapted for a carpusher. It is now the common practice to load ceramics upon kiln ears, andto impart movement to a series of the loaded cars slowly through a tunnel kiln. wherein the ceramics are'subjected to the action of heat. In one practical form of apparatus, thekiln cars are about 62 inches in length, and said. cars are pushed a car length with in the kiln inabout minutes. The cars with the burned ceramics are pushed out of the kiln at one end of the tunnel, and other cars with unburned ceramics are introduced successively into the kiln at the other end of said tunnel, a train of said cars being pushed intermittently along the tunnel so that the materialloaded upon the cars are subjected for therequired length oftime to the heat within the :kiln.

It is apparent that for advancing a series 7 of loaded cars through the tunnel the pushmeans for imparting endwise movement successively to said screw-rods, and means for restraining one of saidscrew-rods from rotative movement while permitting the other of said screw-rods to rotate freely in a manner to effect the Outward movement first of the inner screw-rod and thereafter to impart a similar outward movement to the outer one of saidscrew-rods with respect to the driving mechanism.

For applying power to the telescopic pusher, a motor and worm gearing are employed, it being preferred to use an electric motor, although other kinds of motors may be utilized.

Means are providedior eilecting, first, the

automatic disconnection of the driving power from the telescopic pusher when the latter has been extended the full distance, and, sec ond, for interrupting the flow of current to the electricmotor when the telescopic pusher has been extended as specified, whereby the extension movement of the pusher and the operation of the motor are automatically arrested.

Means are provided, also, for resetting the extensible pusher in order to collapse it and thus Jermit another car to beintroduced into tr e line of cars which are to be pushed into the kiln, said resetting means being, preferably, operable manually.

Other featuresand advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description takenin connection with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 .isa vertical section, partly in elevation, of the car pusher embodying this invention, the telescopic pusher being illustrated in a position wherein one member ther of is fully extended and showing the power-controlling mechanism in a position responsive to a farther extension of said telescopic pusher whereby's'aid pusher when fully extended is adapted to shut ofi' the power. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevation of'the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly broken away and in section, and

Figure 4 is an elevation. partly in section, in order to more clearly illustrate the gear on the non-sliding member of the telescopic pusher. I V

lhe base 10 supports a housing or casing 11, the latter being provided in its upper part with an elongated bearing 12. Said bearing is in the form of a horizontal stationery sleeve, the forward portion of which is closed by a cap 13 attached iii a suitable manner vto the bearing sleeve 12, whereas the rear part of the casmg 11 and the bearing sleeve 12 are closed by a section 14 of the casing, the latter being attached in a suitable way to the bearing sleeve 12 and to the housing, 11.

The extensible pusher of this invention consists of a plurality of members A B C assembled telescopically so as to be collapsed within the dimensions of the bearing sleeve 12, or to be extended beyond the apparatus for a distance equal substantially to the length of the car which is to be pushed through the tunnel of the kiln. The member A is a non-sliding sleeve fitted directly within the bearing sleeve 12 and held from endwise movement therein, said memher A being free to rotate within the bearing sleeve. vided with an internal thread for a substantial part of its length, and it is open at its ends. As one means for restraining the tubular member A from sliding movement within the bearing sleeve 12, I have shown the forward part of the member A as being provided with a collar a with which collar cooperates two thrust rings 15, 16. The thrust ring 15 is positioned in contact with one face of the collar and with an inner face of the fixed cap 13, whereas the other thrust ring 16 is positioned intermediate the other face of the collar (4 and an end face of the stationery bearing sleeve 12 whereby the tubular member A and its collar a are free to rotate within the hearing sleeve 12 and its cap 13, but said collar and the cooperating thrust rings retain the member A from sliding movement within the bearing sleeve 12.

The member B of the extensible pusher is tubular in form and of a diameter to fit snugly within the non-sliding tubular member A. The tubular member B has a bearing in a foiavard non-threaded portion of the, retating and non-sliding member A; said member B is provided with an internal thread for a substantial part of its length, and to the rear portion of said member B, there is attached a nut 17 The nut is provided with an external or male thread, corresponding to the internal thread provided in the nonsliding member A, whereby the member B is operatively connected by the nut 17 with the female threaded portion of the nonsliding member A. As shown, the nut 17 is made in a separate piece from the member B, said nut is fitted upon the rear open end portion of the member B, and suitable means are employed for attaching the nut fixedly to the tubular member B, so that the rotative movement of the Y internally threaded member A will, at the The tubular member A is proproper time, impart rotative movement to the member B and thereafter impart a for ward feed movement to said member B, all

as will be hereinafter more fully set forth The member C of the extensible pusher is shown as atubular piece of the required length and diameter, although in some in- .stanc'es, it is apparent that I may employ a solid bar or rod to constitute said member G. The member C is of a diameter to fit snugly within the tubular sliding member B, said member C having a bearing inthe forward non-threaded part of the mem ber B. Fixedly secured to the rear part of the inner-sliding member G is a nut 18, the

latter having an external thread correspond ing to the internal thread provided within.

strained from having rotative movement by a cross-head 19 and guide rods 20, see Figures 2 and 3. through the cross-head, but rotative movement of said member C relatively to the cross-head is precluded by a feather 21 fitted in a groove 22 rovided in the under side of the member tached fixedly to the cross-head 19, as shown in Figure 1. The crosshead 19 is positioned transversely to the path of the member C, and the rods 20 are fixedly secured to the end portions of said cross member. The rods are free to slide in guide lugs 23 provided on the can 13 of the bearing sleeve 12, said rods 20 being adapted to slide within the stationary housing 11, as shown in Figure 3. The cross-head and the guide. rods are adapted to partake of the sliding move ment of the member C when the telescopic pusher is extended, but the outward movement of th'e'rods and the crosshead is arrested by stop collars 2 1 on therods coming in contact with the cap 13. The cross-head and the rods are adapted to move inward when the telescopic pusher is collapsed by a collar 25 on the outer end of the member C coming into contact with the cross-head 19, whereby the inward movement of the member C positions the collar '25 into contact with the cross-head so that the continued inward movement of the member C will push the cross-head toward the housing and will slide the rods 20 within said housing.

Member C slides freely said feather 21 being at Power is applied to the apparatus through V Said shaft is shown as having a any suitable motor such as an electric motor (not shown). Said shaft 26 is provided with a worm 28 which meshes withthe worm gear 29, the -hub30of which worm gear is mounted loosely upon the rear portion of r the tubular non-sliding member A at a point in the rear of the stationarybearing sleeve 12, see Figures 1 and 4. The loose worm gear 29 cooperates with a clutch 31 keyed upon the rear portion of the tubular'non sliding member A, said clutch and the worm gear being of the form known as a pin clutch, although it will be understood that any other proper form of clutch device may be employed. When the clutch 31 is shifted along the tubular member A for interlocking connection with the worm gear 29, the power of the motor is communicated through the shaft 26, the worm 28, the worm gear 29 and the clutch 31 to the member A for rotating the latter within the bearing sleeve 12, whereby said member A is driven by power to impart the extension movement to the telescopic pusher. For resetting. the telescopic pusher subsequent to the extension thereof by the power mechanism described, I employ means independent of the power mechanism, and operable at will, said means being preferably in the form of'a wheel 32 provided with a crank 33 and the hub 34 of said wheel beingattached rigidly in any suitable way to the rear part of the nonsliding tubular member A, as clearly shown in the drawings. With the telescopic pusher in an extended position, the clutch 31 may be disengaged from the worm gear 29 by means hereinafter described so as to interrupt the operative connection between the power driven shaft 26 and the non-sliding member A of said pusher, after which the attendant may grasp the handle 33 and rotate the wheel 32 for the purpose of imparting rotative movement in an opposite direction to the member A, whereby the telescopic pusher may be collapsed or contracted by the manual efforts of an attendant in order to reset the telescopic pusher into a condition for a subsequent operation.

Means are provided for interrupting the operative connection between the driving power, and the telescopic pusher when the latter shall have been extended the required distance, and to this end,'I employ a train of clutch shifting devices controlled by the extension movement of. the telescopic pusher and timed to .automatically disengagethe clutch 31 from the worm. gear 29 at the proper-interval. The means for obtaining this result are as follows i 1 The tubular nonsliding member A is provided intermediate its ends with an external gear 35, with which meshes a gear36, the latter being provided with a hub 37 which is journaled in a horizontal bearing 38 provided within the housingll at a point below the'bearing sleeve 12. The gear 36 is free rod is supported in the. nut 37 and by a' hanger 40 attached to the bearing sleeve 12, said hanger being equipped with a direction sheave 41. The shipper rod is provided at the end distant from the nut and the gears with contact roller 42 positioned for engagement with an arm 43 on a horizontal rock shaft 44, the latter being journaled in suitable bearings of the housing 11. This rocker arm43 is provided with a pin 45 fitted loosely in a slot 46 of a connecting rod 47, the other end of'which rod is connected by a pin 48 with a short arm 49 on a rock shaft 50, said rock shaft being'journaled in suitable bearings of the housing 11 and one end of the rock shaft being extended through the housing, as shown in Figure 2, in order that said rock shaft may receive a hand lever 51, the latter being positioned exteriorly to the housing and being within easy access of the operator. The pin 48 connects the rod 47 with the rock shaft 50, and connects a further rod 52 with said arm 49 of the rock shaft, said further rod 52 being pivoted at its. rearward portion to, a depending arm 53 which is rigid with a clutch-operating rock shaft 54, the latter being journaled in proper bearings of the housing 11 adjacent to and below the clutch 31. This rock shaft 54 is provided with an upwardly extending fork 55 which 7 cooperates with and is connected loosely to the clutch 31, whereby the movement of the rock shaft 54actuates the fork 55 so as'to move the clutch 31 into and out of engagement with the worm gear 29. The rock shaft 50 is positioned intermediate the rock shafts 44 and 54,a11d said intermediate rock shaft 49 is. provided with upwardly extending arms56, to the upper ends of which are pivoted links 57, the rear ends of which are connected to weight-carrying arms 58, the latter being fixedly secured on horizontal shaft 59, and said .arms 58 supporting weights 60 adapted when lowered to occupy the weight-seats 61 provided interiorly of the housing. The gears and the nut operated by the rotative movement of the non-slidin pusher member A imparts to the screw rod 39 a feed movement at a reduced speed .as compared'withthespeed of the parts comprising the extensible pusher, whereby the members B C of said pusher are extended at a faster speed than the rate of travel of the screw rod 39. When the members B G of the pusher are retracted or telescoped one within the other and within member A, the screw rod 39 pojects rearwardly through the nut 37 of gear 36, Fig. 1 showing the member G extended whereas member B is encased, and the screw rod 39 being nearly in its midway position relative to the feed nut 37, it being apparent that in the retracted or semi-extended condition of the pusher the forward end portion of the feed rod 39 is. free from contact with arm 43 of the rock shaft 44, the drop weights 60 being raised to the on-center positionof Fig. 1. Now as the pusher is extended the gears and the feed nut impart the forward motion to the screw rod at, a reduced speed proportionately to the extension speed movement of the pusher,-there being thus established a differential inthe travel of the pusher and the feed rod, but just prior to the time when the pusher completes its extension movement, the feed rod will have been moved sufficiently far in a forward" direction for the roller 42 to contact with arm 43 in order to turn rock shaft 44 and move rod 47 and rock shaft 50 whereby arms 56, 58 are operated to shift weight-s 60 off center,whereupon the resulting sudden gravity movement of said weights 60 imparts a quick throw to red 52, arm 53 and rock shaft 54 in a manner to effect a quick disengagement of clutch 31 from worm gear 29, thereby effecting automatically an interruption in the driving connection between the power shaft and the non-sliding member A of the telescopic pusher.

As hereinafter stated, it is preferred to employ an electric motor for applying power to the worm shaft 26, but it has notbeen considered necessary to illustrate said electric motor and its connections with the apparatus. Means are provided for cutting off the power of the motor when the telescopic pusher reaches the limit of its extension movement, as will now be described. The current is supplied to the electric motor through a breaker-switch 62 illustrated more particularly in Figure 2 as being positioned exteriorly upon the housing 11 at the lower forward portion thereof. The movable ele ment 63 of this breaker-switch is pivoted by a pin 64 to a link 65, the latter having a slot 66 in which is fitted a pin 67 attached to a lever arm 68 on a horizontal rock shaft 69. Said rock shaft is journaled in proper bearings of the housing 11 at a point intermediate the rock shafts 44, 50, and this rock shaft 69 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 70 carrying a drop weight71, said shaft 69 being furthermore provided with a short depending arm 72, to the lower end of which is connected the rear portion of the rod 73, the forward part of which rod is provided with a slot 74 which receives the pin 7 5 on an arm 76 depending from the rock shaft 44. i I i As shown in Figure 1, the weight 71 is in a central position during the extension movement of the pusher, at which time the member 63 of the breaker-switch is closed for supplying current to the motor in order that the latter may drive the shaft 26. As the in order that the arm 68 will be operatedto quickly withdraw the movable element 63 from contact with the breaker-switch, where by thercurrent is out OK from the motor without producing a destructive spar the slottedconnection of the rod to the arm 43 and the similar connection of the link 65 to thearm 68 permitting the quick throw by the weight 71 without breaking the train of operative connections between the arm 43 and the breaker-switch.

The operation may be summarized as follows lVith the tubular member B encased within sleeve member A, and member C withdrawn into member B, a loaded'car can be placed in front of member C so as to contact therewith, whereby a fresh car can be introduced in line with the'series of cars adapted to be pushed into and through the tunnel. or kiln. For pushing the series of cars a distance equal to the extension movement of the pusher A, B, C, the operator moves lever 51 and operates the clutch 31 to make the worm gear 29 fast with the non-sliding member A, whereupon the arm 68 is operated for the movable element 63 to close the circuit through the breaker-switch, current being thus supplied to the motor. Shaft 26 now imparts rotative movement to the non-sliding member A. The frictional engagement between the nut 17 and the internal threads of member A is greater than the frictional contact between the nut 18 and the internal threads of member B, hence the rotative movement of the sleeve A imparts rotative movement to the member B and the internal threads of the latter act upon the nut 18 so as to impart sliding movement to the member C,'the latter being held from rotative movement by the feather connection 21 with the member C. It follows that at first the rotary motion of sleeve A acts upon the parts B. C, to extend said non-rotative member 0 to the limit permitted by the threaded engagement of nut 18 with the internal threads of said member B, whereupon the member C becomes in a measure fast with or locked to the member B. Now, as the member O is restrained from rotative move ment by the crosshead 19 and rods 20, and as the members B C are fast or locked together as described, the continued rotation of sleeve A acts upon the nut 17to impart sliding movement to said member B relative to the member A, the nut 17 being operated upon by the threads of the sleeve or'memher A, whereby at the second stage of operations the continued rotation of sleeve A feeds forward the member B and with it the member C. The member B travels within the rotative sleeve until the nut 17 reaches the end of the threads in the member A, thus resulting in the feed of the two members B C successively and tothe full extent, but in the meantime the gears 85, 36 and the nut 37 will have operated the rod 39 so as to bring it into contact with the arm 43 by the time that the pusher is fully extended, whereupon the clutch 31 is disengaged from the worm gear 29 and the breaker-switch is operated to cut off the supply of current to the motor, the effect of which is to stop the drive upon the member A and to arrest the motor, these operations being performed automatically. The operator is now ableto turn the crank wheel 32 for rotating the sleeve by hand in a reverse direction, thus collapsing theextensible pusher, and restoring the parts to normal position ready for further operation.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible sectional pusher, of a driving member for imparting rotative movement to a section of said pusher, means for connecting and disconnecting said driving member relatively to said pusher, and means operated by an extension movement of the pusher for shifting said connecting and disconnecting means.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a telescopic pusher embodying not less than three members two of which are slidable relatively to each other and to the third member, means actuated by the rotative movement of the third member for imparting telescopic movement to automatically pusher, coupling means for making said driving member fast with said pusher, and controlling means operated by the extension movement of the pusher for throwing said coupling means out of service.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a telescopic pusher, of a driving member loose with respect to said pusher, coupling means for making said driving member fast with said pusher, controlling means for operating said coupling means, and means for imparting to the controlling means a slower speed than that given by the driving member to said pusher.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a telscopic pusher, of a driving member cooperating with said pusher, a clutch for said driving member, controlling means associated with the clutch, and means operated by the extension movement of the pusher and actuating said controlling means at a decreased speed relatively to the speed of the pusher in the extension thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pusher mechanism and a driving member therefor, of a clutch for throwing the driving member into and out of service, controlling means cooperating with said clutch', and means actuated by the movement of the pusher in one direction and controlling the clutch to shift it into an out of service position.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible pusher, and a driving member therefor, of a clutch cooperating with said member, a feed screw, means operated by the extension movement of the pusher for imparting motion to the feed screw, and means controllable by the feed screw for shifting the clutch into an out of service position.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher including a non-sliding rotatable member, a driving member loose with respect to said non-sliding rotatable member, a clutch co operating with the driving member, and con trolling means for operating the clutch, said controlling means being operated by the extension movement of said pusher.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible pusher, of a driving member, a clutch for coupling and releasing said driving member, con trolling means operated by the extension movement of the pusher for shifting the clutch into an out of service position, and means separatenfrom the controllingmeans for shifting theclutch into operative relation to' the driving member.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible pusher, and a driving member therefor, of a clutch cooperating with the driving member, clutch-controlling means dependent for its operation upon the extension movement of the pusher, said controlling means operating to shift the clutch to an out-of-service position, a current-controller, and means actuated by clutch controlling means for operating said current controller.

11. In an'apparatus of the class described, an extensible pusher embodying a non-sliding rotative member and a plurality of concentric threaded members mutually cooperating to effect a telescopic movement to said pusher, combined with a driving membed loose with respect to said non-sliding rotative member, a clutch, andmeans operated by the extension movement of the pusher for shifting the clutch into an out of service position.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible Etelescopic pusher, and a driving member there for, of a clutch cooperating with said driving member, and controlling means for shifting said clutch into an out of service position, said controlling means being timed with and operated by the extension movement of said pusher whereby the driv ing member is brought to rest upon comple tion of the extension; movement by the pusher. I

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a telescopic pusher, and a driving .member therefor, of a clutch cooperating with said driving member, a feed screw, means operated by the extension movement of the pusher for imparting movement to said feed screw at decreased speed relatively to said extension movement of the pusher, means for accelerating the speed of the clutch in disengaging the latter from the driving member, and means operated by the feed screw to shift the clutch automatically as the pusher reaches the limit of its extension movement.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher embodying a plurality of members slidable relatively to each other,one of said members having an external gear, driving means including a clutch for imparting the extension -movement to said pusher, a clutch shifter, a gear meshing with said external gear, an endwise movable rod operated by said gear, and means between the rod and the clutch shifter for moving the clutch upon the completion of the extension move ment of the pusher.

I 15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher embodying a plurality of members slidable relatively to each other, one of said members having an external gear, driving means including a clutch for imparting the extension movement to said pusher, a clutch shifter, a gear meshing with saidexternal gear, an endwise movable rod operated by said gear, operating means intermediate the clutch shifter and the rod, and means for imparting a quick movement to the clutch shifter and the clutch as the pusher approaches the limit of its extension movement.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher embodying a plurality of members slidably relatively to each other, driving means including a clutch for imparting the ex tension movement to said pusher, a circuit breaker, means operable by the pusher for shifting the clutch and operating the circuit breaker as said pusher approaches the limit of its extension movement, and means for imparting a quick throw to the circuit breaker.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an extensible telescopie pusher, and a driving member therefor, of a clutch cooperating with said driving member, controlling means operated by the extension movement of the pusher and actuating the clutch to release the driving member as said pusher approaches the limit of its extension movement, and resetting means controllable at will for moving the clutch into operative relation to the driving member. V

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher embodying a non -sliding member and a plurality of sliding members, a shaft, a worm and a worm gear between the shaft and the non-sliding pusher member, a clutch for making the worm gear fast with said non-sli ding pusher member, and means controllable by the extension movement of the pusher for operating said clutch.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher embodying a non-sliding member and a plurality of sliding members, a shaft, a worm and a worm gear between the shaft andthe non-sliding pusher member, a clutch. for making the worm gear fast-with said nonsliding pusher member, means dependent upon the extension movement of the pusher for operating the clutch, means operable at will for shifting the clutch, and-re-setting means operable at will for rotating the nonsliding pusher member independently of the driving worm and worm gear.

20. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of an extensible pusher,

driving mechanism, a worm and, gear operated by said driving mechanism for imparting movement to said pusher for extendin it, and stopping means controllable bythe extension movement of the pusher, said 'stopping means operating to arrest the extensio movement of the pusher. 21. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of an extensible pusher the members of which have threaded engagement, a driving mechanism, a worm and gear operated by the driving mechanism and cooperating with one member of said pusher for imparting rotative movement thereto, and stopping means actuated by the extension movement of the pusher, said stopping means operating to arrest the extension movement of said pusher.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pusher embodying a plurality of members slidable one within the other, driving mechanism, a plurality of 00- operating members actuated by the driving mechanism for imparting'movement to said pusher, and stopping means cooperating with the pusher and with one of said plurality of cooperating members whereby the movement of the pusher is arrested.

23. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an extensible pusher, power operated means for imparting movement to said pusher for extending it, stopping means responsive to the extension movement of the pusher for arresting a further extension thereof, and re-setting means for restoring the pusher to a retracted position.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HARRY D. LILLIBRIDGE. 

